Pahsimeroi Valley 2

In the last two days we have heard much from a meeting between public land permittees, also known as ranchers, and government land managers in the Pahsimeroi Valley. We heard that Forest Service range specialist Bryce Jones likes what is happening. “I definitely think it is good and beneficial to be able to get everybody on the ground and see the issues and some of the positives that have been done over the last few years and set some goals moving forward that are attainable and some accountability within the group.” We also heard from the other side that allotments were getting better. Rancher Roy Hoffman Junior says the biggest improvement on his allotment was the development of stock water locations to keep cows from congregating in riparian zones. “We have put in 16,000 feet of pipe. Moved the water troughs off of the road so they are not as visible to the public and we have put in about 3 miles of riparian spring fences.”

 

Forest Ranger Jones wrapped things up by suggesting it is a process that must include all opinions. “There’s some accomplishments and a lot of work that permittees have put in for range improvement with managing public land or being permitted to graze livestock on public land. It is public land so you can get a group out that thanks a lot similarly and you can come up with a lot of great ideas but flipping that there is going to be a group in the middle and flipping that there may be a group on the other side that may not want any permitted livestock at all so the process ensures that we include all of those other opinions, ideas and thoughts.” For the past several years permittees have had cow numbers and time on the allotments reduced, a trend they expect to see changed as collaboration solutions improve overall range health.